Engine starting mechanism



Nov. 28, 1939. R. P. LANSING v 2.181,333

` ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM- Original Fild May 27, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1v Gttorneg Nov,2& 1939. RRLANQNG 2,181,333

ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Original -Filed May 27, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 128 ZSnvcntof Zl.

@dyn/omi @Las in? (Itfomg Patented Nev. 2s, 1939 UNITED. STATES PATENTfoFFieE aisles:

ENGINE STARTING MCHANISM Raymond P. Lansing,l Montclair, N. J., asslgnor to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East- Orange,

N. J.,^a corporation of New Jersey Application May 27, 1930, Serial No. 456,273 Renewed March 9, 1937 r 11 Claims. `(Cl. 123-179) 'I'his invention relates to mechanism for use in starting internal combustion engines.

Onevof the objects of the invention is to prof vide novel engine starting mechanism including ignition current supply means, the latter being operable with said mechanism or independent thereof. y

Another object of the invention is to provide `novel engine starting apparatus of the inertia type in combination with a current supply means adapted to be operated first by the starter andv thereafter by an auxiliary means.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a booster magneto for airplanes, an engine starter adapted to simultaneously drive the engine and booster magneto, and an' auxiliary means Ifor continuing the operation of the magneto'during the last stage of the en-,

'gine cranking action, or even after discontinuance of the cranking action,'thus supplementing the drive from the starter and producing amore intense spark in the engine cylinders than would otherwise be produced. A further function of the last-named means is tousupplement the cranking action by imparting a further degree of acceleration to the engine engaging member.

A further object is to provide, novel manual means for operating a booster magneto.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, lwherein f' like reference characters refer to like l parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for lthe purpose of ilustration only, and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention. In

the drawings,

Aprises a housing embodying an inner section 6 that is preferably formed of aluminum, an intermediate section'l that is removably secured to section 6 as by means of bolts 8, and an outer section 9 that is secured'to section 'I in any suitable manner as by means of screws (not shown).

The in ner section is provided with a flange Il that is adapted to be bolted orotherwise removably connected to the engine crank case, a. portion of the latter being diagrammatically illustrated at Il. 'I'he intermediate housing section l is provided with an end wallr or diaphragm I2 having a lateral projection boss I3 in which are positioned a pair of ball bearings Il for rotatably supporting a flywheel I5, which is of small size and weight and which is adapted to be rotated at very high speeds, `whereby energy may be 1 stored therein for starting the engine.

. Means are provided for manually rotating the flywheel I5. In the form shown, said means includes a cranking shaft I6 which is disposed sub- O stantially at right angles to the axis of rotation 15 of the flywheel I5 and is rotatably mounted in the intermediate housing section l. The diaphragm I2 is provided with a lug I'I carrying a ball bearing I8 for rotatably supporting the inner end `of shaft I6,-and the side wall of section 1,20

carries a ball bearing I9 for rotatably supporting the outer end ofthe cranking shaft. A spacing sleeve 20 surrounds the intermediate'portiom of the cranking shaft and bears at its opposite ends against the inner faces of th'e bearings I8 and I9, 2'5 whereby the -latter are maintained at proper spaced relation.

'I'he cranking shaft 'I6 is provided-with an enlarged portionv 2l which extends laterally from the -outer walls of section 1 and carries closely 30 adjacent the end thereof, a transverse pin 22 adapted to be engagedby a hand crank (not shown), whereby said shaft I6 may be manually rotated. The inner end of shaft I6 has drivably connected thereto in any suitable manner, a'bevel gear 23 that meshes with a bevel gear 24 which is drivably connected to a stub shaft 25 which is preferably formed integral and concentrically with the closed end 26.0f the barrel 2l that ,is

rotatably mounted as by meansof ball bearings o 2l in the inner housing section 6.

'Ihree planetary gears, one of which is shown in section at 29 while the others are omitted for clarity of illustration, are rotatably mounted on the outer faces of the barrel end 26. As shown, 5 the -mountingof each' planetary gear is constituted by a screw $0 that is disposed parallelto stub'shaft 25 and isthreaded at its -inner end into barrel end 26. Surrounding the shank'of each of the screws is a sleeve 3| having. its inner 50 end countersunk inA barrel end 26 and interposed between the sleeve and the planetary gears in a ball bearing I2. The planetary gears are spaced at angular intervals of degrees around theend of the barrel, and screws 3l carry on their v outer ends a ring 33 which constitutes a retainer for each of the sleeves 3| and ball bearings 32.

An internal spur gear 34, which is rigidly attached to the inner surface of housing section 6 as by means Vof screws or studs 35, surrounds and has meshing engagement with each of the planetary gears 29. The latter also mesh with a Asun gear 36 which is rotatably mounted by means of a'rbushing 31 on the stub shaft 25. The sun gear ispreferably formed integrally with an internal spur gear 39, which islikewise rotatably mounted on the stub shaft 25; and said internal gear meshes with a pinion 39 formed on one end of a bell-shaped member 40, the large end of said bell-shaped member being cut to form a spur gear 4I. A pinion 42 which is formed integral with the inner end of a stub shaft 43 meshes with the spur gear 4|. The stub shaft 43 extends through and is drivably connected to the hub' l5a of the ywheel, and longitudinal movement of said shaft relative to the flywheel is prevented by means of a flange 43E provided on the shaft adjacent pinion 42 and a nut 44 .that is threaded onto the outer end of said shaft and is heldin position by means of a lock washer 45 that has vabutting engagement with the outer face of ywheel I5.

The energy stored in the flywheel is adapted to be imparted to a clutch or jaw member 46 carried by the crankshaft 4.1, or an extension thereof, of the engine to be started and for this purpose ,the flywheel is drivably connected through the train of gears described above with a clutch or jaw member 48. that is adapted for movement into, but is normally out of, engagement with jaw member 46.

The energy stored in the ywheel l5 is so great that damage would result to the starter parts at the time the starter is connected to the engineif said flywheel .were rigidly connected to the clutch member 48. Accordingly, a yielding driving connection is provided between the flywheel and the clutch member 43. In the form shown, the yielding driving connection'is constituted vby a clutch of multiple disc type, said clutch being positioned within the rotatable barrel 21. A number of the clutch discs 49, which are annular in form, are splined at their outer peripheries to the inner surface of the barrel 21. The remaining discs of the clutch are splined at their inner peripheries to the outer surface of an internally threaded nut 50 which is provided intermediate its ends with a flange 5|. I'he clutch discs 49 are held between ange 5| and the inner face of the end walls 26.

Yielding means are provided for varying the frictional engagement of the discs whereby the amount of torque transmitted by said discs may be varied. For this purpose the inner surface of the inner end of barrel 21 is threaded to receive an adjustable nut 52 which has engagement with a spacer ring 53 provided with a plurality of equi-spaced pins 54, each of which extends into varying the pressure exerted by said springs through flange 5| on the clutch discs. Any suitable locking means, such as is shown at 56, may

be employedvfor lockingthe nut 52 in adjusted position. l

A threaded shaft 51 is positioned within the internally threaded nut 50, the shaft being adapt- `ed for rotary and longitudinal movement relative to said nut. The outer end of shaft 51 carries a stop nut 58 adapted to engage a suitable shoulder formed interiorly of nut 50 whereby longitudinal Amovement of the shaft is positively limited. The

inner end of shaft 51 is provided exteriorly with longitudinal splines which coact with the interiorly splined hub portion iiiEL of the jaw 48. A coil spring 59 is interposed between jaw member 48 and the adjacent end of shaft 51 to resist movement of said jaw towards the shaft and, if desired, the shaft may be provided with a recess to receive the adjacent end of spring 59. Oilsealing means 60 are preferably provided for the engine end of the starter to prevent seepage of oil from the engine crank case into the starter housing.

' Means are provided for moving shaft 51 and jaw 48 toward the jaw member 46 whereby said jaws may be moved into driving engagement and the energy stored in iiywheel |5 may be rendered available for rotating crank shaft 41. As will be pointed out more fully hereafter, said means also serve to establish the driving connection between the magneto and flywheel. In the form shown, 25

4the outer end of said rod terminating closely adjacent the inner face of pinion 42. The inner end of rod 6| is of reduced diameter to provide a shoulder 62 which normally is in abutting engagement Withthe outer end of threaded shaft 51. PThe inner extremity of rod 6| is threaded to receive a nut 63 which bears against the inner face of jaw member 48. l

The outer end of rod 6| `is provided with a transversely extending pin 64 which passes through a slot 65provided in one end of a lever arm 66, the opposite end of said arm being rigidly connected to a rockshaft 61 journaled in the starter housing. One end of the rockshaft 61 projects through the starter housing and has iixedly atached thereto a bell crank lever adapted to receive a rod or cable (not shown) whereb'y said rockshaft may be manually rotated. A coil spring 69 surrounds rockshaft 61 and has one end thereof in engagement with lever arm 66, the other end of said spring being anchored in any suitable manner whereby the same normally maintains -rod 6| in the position shown in Fig. 1 with jaw 48 in retracted or non-driving position.

Ignition current supply means such as a small, light boostermagneto 10 is conveniently mounted on the starterhousing and means are provided forl drivably connecting saidmagneto and flywheel whereby `the latter may 'drive the magneto at high speed. In the form illustrated, magneto 10 is mounted on the end of housing se'ction 9 in such a position that the magneto armature shaft 1| extends substantially at right angles to the axis of flywheel I5. A pinion 1 2, which is carried on the outer ,end of shaft 1| meshes with a bevel 'gear 13 fixedly secured to onejend of a shaft 14 which is rotatably mounted in a housing 15 provided on the side of the starter housing. The inner end of shaft 14' carries a pinion 16 adapted -to be drivably engaged but normally out of engagement with a bevel gear 18 which is` slidably mounted on the enlarged end of cran shaft I6.

A slot 19 is provided in vshaft I6 and slidably extending therethrough, at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, is a pin 88 which engagesat litsc'ippositeends the hub portion of bevel gear 18. the pin thus constituting a driving connectionbetweexiI shaft 1 I 6a'nd/said I atA '8| bears agains a suitable portion of the gear 18.

Means are provided for moving gear 18 upwardly into driving engagement with pinion 16 against the/tension of spring 8| and said means are preferably so constituted as to b e actuated by lever 68,"rockshaft 61 and a'rm 66. As shown, a rod 83,

which may be formed in sections if desired, slidably extends through the hollow cranking shaft I6, the outer end of said rod having abutting engagement with pin 88 and the inner end of the rod being provided with a U-shaped head 84. Diagonally disposed slots 85 -are provided in the op-l posite sides of head 84 and through said slots project the opposite ends of the pin 64 carried by rod 6I. One end of each slot 85 is preferably enlarged, andnormally pin 64 extends through said enlarged portions.

The operation' ofthe apparatus is as follows: The operator engages l the hand crank (not shown) with pin 22 and rotates cranking shaft I6. This movement is transmitted, through the train of gearing described, to flywheel I5 whereby the latter may be rotated at high speed and energy stored therein for starting the engine. -As soon i as the flywheel is brought to the desired speed of rotation the operator actuates lever 68 to rotate rockshaft 61rwhich motion is transmitted to the arm 66 whereby .the latteris moved in a clockwise l direction as viewed in Fig. `1. The movement of arm 66 is transmitted through pin 64 to rod 6| forcing th latter to the right as viewed Ain Fig. 1.

Threaded shaft 51, which is also rotated-by the iiywheel through the train of gearing, the multiple disc clutch and the nut 58, and which also rotated during th manual cranking operation, is

forced to the right by shoulder 62 whereupon spring v58 iseifective to move jaw 48 into driving engagement with jaw 46 and the energy of the flywheel is imparted to crank shaft 41 to rotatel the same.

Simultaneously with the movement'of rod 6|, y

pin 64 is effective through the slotted head 84 to move rod 83 upwardly. Pin 88, which has abutting engagementwith the rod 83, vis also forced upwardly, against the tension of spring- 8| and bevel gear 18 is thus moved intomeshing engagement with pinion 16, whereupon the ywheel is eiective to rotate the magnetoarmature shaft 1I. 'Ihe magneto now supplies starting current to the engine and when the latter starts under its own power the speed of thecrank shaft 41 ishs'uch as to cause jaw 46 to overrun jaw 48, whereupon 1 outside end attached to a terminal member |22 the inclination of the teeth of said jaws forces jaw 48 out of driving position. When the op-A erator releases lever 68-spring 68 returns'the rods '6I and 83 to normal position andspring 8| 'is now effective to demesh gear 18 by moving the latter downwardly. It will be noted thatvgea'r 18v In Fig. 2 there is illustrated one embodiment of' the auxiliary magneto drive.'- The casing 15 is provided with a wall or diaphragm 88 cooperating in the'casing 9|.

withaiependent casing 9I attached to casing 15 by/any suitable means for supporting a reduction gear train. An operating shaft 92 is supported in a bearing 83 in the wall 88 and a bearing 84 The shaft 92 extends beyond the exterior of the casing 8| and h as attached thereto a crank arm 85 by means of a set-screw 86.

. An aperture 91 is shown at the end of the crank arm for receiving a handle (not shown). The crank arm 85 abuts against the casing 8| and is adapted to cooperate with a collar 88 attached tol the other end and abutting the wall 98 for maintaining the`shaft 82 in proper position and preventing longitudinal movement. Within the casing thelshaft 92 has splines upon which is mounted a driving member |88 springl pressed into cooperative relation with a member I8| by means of a spring |82 supported between member |88 and a collar on the shaft 82.

The engagement between members |88 and I8| is by means of ratchet teeth |83 and |84 which will permit relative rotation in one direction only. The ratchet teeth will slip by each other direction. The member |8I is slidably mounted on the shaft 82 and comprises a combined clutch and lgear, the latter being designated |85. 'Ihe gear member |85 is constantly in mesh with a gear |86 preferably formed integral with a gear |81. iGear |81 is mounted on a shaft |88 supported between the wall 88 and casing 9|, and is constantly in mesh with a gear |88 which is preferably made integral with a gear I I8. Gears |88 and I|8 are mounted on a shaft III supported byY wall 88 and casingl 9|. gear ||2 mounted rigidly on a shaft |I3, which is provided at its opposite end with a bevel gear |I4 lconstantly in mesh with gear 13, the'gear 13 also being in meshwith the driving gear 12 of the booster magneto.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 shaft 92 is mounted in the bearing 93 in wall 98 and bearing 94 in casing 9|. The shaft is splined as at 89 and the ratchet clutch member |83 is mounted on the shaft the same as in Fig. 2. Also on the spline vshaft 82 is mounted a drum II5 having a narrow shown). Coiled within the narrow circular recess I|6 is a cord or exible cable |28, the convolutions of which'are around each other and held in place by the side walls of the recess I6.l The inner end of cord |28 is attached to member I5 while the outside end'extends through an aperture 9|- (Fig. 4) to the outside of the case. Within recess I I1 is mounted a clock spring |24 having its inside end fixed to member II5 and its which extends outwardly and is attached to the |24 are wound in the opposite direction from the convolutions ofthe cord |28 and, therefore, the spring tends to keep the cord wound in its proper position. The initial tensionof the clock spring may be adjusted by rotating cover'plate I I9 and member |22 until such tension is obtained and then securing the cover in place. c When it is desired to start the engine by the inertia starter the device will operate in the man- Gear II8 drives al cover plate I.|8.` The convolutions of the spring` y ner above described, but when it is desired to increase the intensity of the spark derived from the operation of the booster magneto, the latter may be driven from the auxiliary driving means. The driving shaft 92 of the auxiliary driving means may be rotated either by the hand crank of Fig. 2 or the cord |20 of Fig. 3. In using the cord |20 the operator causes the spring to be wound tightly within the drum ||5, so that upon release ofthe cord the spring acts not only to rewind the cord in the groove ||6 but also to drive the booster magneto armature shaft through the ratchet clutch members |03 and |04 and the train of gears described.

When the auxiliary driving means is used the engine starter may or may lnot rotate with the booster magneto Vdepending upon whether the gears 16 and 18 are in mesh. When the starter is independently energized, and gears 16 and 'l0 are brought into mesh, the gear train ofthe auxiliary drive is actuated. However, because of the ratchet clutch members |03 and |04 attached to the operating means and gear train, respectively, of the auxiliary driving means, a relative rotation therebetween is Spermitted in one direction. Under these conditions the ratchet jaws will slip. by each other forcing member |00 out .of contact with member |0l against the spring |02, so that the manual actuating means will not be affected.

There is thus provided novel engine starting mechanism so constituted that the engine on which said mechanism is mounted may be started positively with the aid of a booster magneto adapted to be driven either from the starter or by supplemental means without the necessity of disconnecting or adjusting any of the parts of lthe mechanism. It will be understood that current supply means other than a booster magento may be employed.

While only two embodimentsof the invention have been illustrated and described in detail it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that certain changes, modications, additions and omissions may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts without.

departing from the spirit and scope'of the invention defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with engine starting apparatus, Icurrent supply means, a gear train between the starting apparatus and thie supply means, said gear train being operable to transmit driving effort either to or from said starting apparatus, ,and auxiliary spring driving means operable through said gear train forvsimultaneously actuating said supply means and starting apparatus.

2. In combination with an inertia starter of the type having an inertia member in which energy is stored prior to establishment of driving connection with the engine to be'started, a. booster' magneto, a gear train connectable with the starter for driving themagneto, and a manual means for driving the magneto and starter simultaneously, the driveto the latter being by way of said gear train. i

3; In an engine starting'mechanism, in combination, a flywheel, a magnetma gear train interposed. between said flywheel and magneto,v

portion drivablyconnecting the flywheel and magneto, said second portion being operable to transmit driving eiort from said flywheel to said magneto when said first-named driving means is not in use, and means for automatically disconnecting said first-named driving means from the magneto when thelatr is being driven by the flywheel, acting through said second portion of the gear train. y

4. In an engine starting mechanism, in combination, a booster magneto, 'driving means therefor comprising an inertia starter normally disconnected therefrom and means for connecting the inertia starter with the booster magneto. an auxiliary driving means normally connected therewith including a gear train and a manually rotatable element connected together by a spring pressed one-way ratchet but adapted to separate against the spring pressure when the inertia starter drives.

5. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, in combination, a current generator operable to produce ignitlng sparks in the engine cylinders, means for turning over the engine crankshaft during the operation of said current generator, said turning means comprising a gear train for actuating said crankshaft, means for simultaneously connecting said gear train with the engine crankshaft and current genera-v also operable through said gear train to continue the cranking operation asv long as said gear train remains connected with said crankshaft, said last-named operation being made possible by virtue of the connection theretofore established between said gear train and current generator;

6. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, in combination, a current gen'- erator operable to produce igniting sparks in the engine cylinders, means for turning over the en gine crankshaft during the operation of said current generator, said turning means comprising an inertia member and a gear train for actuating said crankshaft, means for simultaneously connecting said gear train with the engine crankshaft, and with the current generator, and auxiliary drivingA means for said current generator, said auxiliary driving means being also operable through the connection theretofore established betweensaid current generator and gear train lto continue the cranking action after the energy stored in said inertia member has been partially expended.

7. In combination with an engine starter and a booster magneto, a gear train in a plurality of sections, one section of which drivably connects the magneto andstarter'. and another of which 8. In combination with engine starting ap.

paratus, 'current supply means, a gear trainl between the starting apparatus and the supply means, said gear train being operable to transmit driving effort either to or from said starting apparatus, and auxiliary driving means operable through said gear train for actuating said supply means and starting apparatus. y

Y 9. In an engine starting mechanism, in combination, a booster magneto, driving means therefor comprising an inertia starter normally dis-v connected thereirom, means for connecting the element normally connected together but adapted to separate when the inertia starter drives. r

10. In an engine starting mechanism,in combination, a booster magneto, driving means therefor comprising an inertia starter normally disconnected therefrom, means for connecting the inertia starter with the booster magneto, and an auxiliary driving means connected therewith including parts normally connected together but adapted to separate when the inertia starter y drives.

- 11. In' combination with an inertia starter of the type having an inertia member in which energy is stored yprior to establishment of driving 5 connection with the engine to be started, a booster magneto, means `connectable with the starter for driving the magneto, and a manual means for driving the magneto and starter simultaneously, the drive to the latter being by way of said 10 connectable means. l

' RAYMOND P. LANSING. 

